Willaed d



W. D. DOREMUS. MAIL BAG FASTENER.

No. 297,071. Patented Apr. 15, 1884.

17112671107". WB.,D0re77uL$.

U ITED STATES PATmsT Ornrcn.

WILLARD D. DOREMUS, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK HODGES, OF SAME PLACE.

MAIL-BAG FASTENER.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,071, dated April 15, 1884.

Application filed March 26, 1884. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLARD D. DORE- MUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashingtou, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Mail-Bag Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for securing in a closed condition the mouths of mail -bags, grain -sacks, or other analogous articles where a ready and efficient fastening is required.

Figure l is a top or plan view of my device with the rope or cord therein. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line ac a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detached View of the detent or clamp which holds the cord in the casing. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View on the line y y, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the main body or casing of the device, and is by preference made of a short section. of a tube of any suitable metal or other material, the ends of which are depressed, as at B, so as to form divisions in the ends thereof for the passage of the rope or cord 0, which is arranged as shown, the two ends of the rope being passed through the casing in the same direction, so as to form a loop or noose, D, in which the mouth of the bag is gathered and confined, as will more fully appear.

E is a detent or clamp, the lower end of which is provided with a projection, a, which is seated in an opening or hole, I), in the lower portion of the casing A, in such a manner that the upper contracted portion, 0, is free to move back and forth in the slot (Z. The lower edge of the clamp or detent E is made, by preference, of the form shown, to conform to the interior portion of the casing, and is provided with recesses e, or serrations, so as to give it a firm hold on the cord or rope used in securing the mouth of the bag. The recesses 6 may, however, be beveled off, so as to form a narrow edge-like surface for biting into or impinging more readily on the rope. The top or contracted portion of the detent or clamp E projects above the casing A, so

that it can be pressed down or pulled back to release the rope.

fis a ring or loop secured to the end of the casing A, to afford a finger-hold for the operator.

My device is applied as follows: The ends 0 G of the rope or cord are passedthrough the casing and over the recesses or serrations e e in the detent or clamp E. The mouth of the bag is gathered together, as in the ordintry tying process, and passed through the loop or noose D. The operator then pulls on the free ends of the rope with one hand, and pushes the inner end of the casing A up against the side of the sack or bag with the other hand, and on releasing the ends of the rope the expansion of the mouth of the bag will cause the rope to slide a short distance on the detent, lifting or bringing the upper portion of said detent or clamp forward, clamping the rope between the detent or clamp and the side of the casing.

In order to effect a more secure or tighter fastening, when the casing A is slid up to or against the gathered mouth of the sack, the operator pushes the upper portion of the detent or clamp forward, and thus pushes the rope or cord in contact with the sides of the casing, without permitting the cord or rope to slip in the slightest degree.

hen it is desired to release the device, all that is necessary to be done is to pull on the free ends of the rope and press the casing back until the detent or clamp falls forward, releasing the rope; or by simply pressing down or pulling back on the extension 0 the same result will be accomplished.

By the devices just described I am enabled to produce a very cheap, simple, and effective means for fastening the mouths of sacks, bags, &c., and where used for mai1-bags the names of the-larger cities may be stamped or otherwise placed thereon, so that when placed on the mail bag or pouch the destination of such sack is readily determined without the use of any other indicating device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters -Patcut, is-- 1. A device for fastening mail-bags, condepressed portions B, in combination with the sisting of a short section of a tube provided detent E and rope or cord 0. 10 with the depressed portions B, formed of one In testimony whereof I affix my signature in piece of metal, and a detent or clamp, E, presence of two Witnesses.

5 adapted to fit within said tubeseetion, as set WILLARD D. DOREMUS.

forth. Witnesses:

2. A device for fastening mail-bags, con- CHAS. E. DTEMAR, sisting of a, short section-of a tube having the M. C. HOOKER. 

